[Joules]

Edit: In before the "wrong forum"! Requesting a move.

My family's on the other coast, my man is six weeks deep in vacationing in Spain without me, and I've spent my money almost exclusively on food and bills since the semester started. It is time to ease my sorrows with selfishness! (Better than alcohol, right?)



This is my big self-gift: it is an enormous waterproof backpack that retails for $650. I did not pay nearly that much. Yay for industry perks.
I had to sell my previous pack of similar size at a yardsale following a very miserable four days in the eastern Sierra Nevada where I learned that the hipbelt was not intended for women who wear a size smaller than six or eight. That one retailed for $200 several years ago. I can't wait to see what $450 of backpack gets me.



Crappy picture. Nice knives. Farberware bamboo-handled forged steel set for my cooking pleasure. Boy, do I love knives. My roommate likes to whine about how his "really expensive" walmart-salesrack-quality kitchen stuff is "mistreated". Well, mistreat this! (Or maybe that would not be such a good idea.)


Post pics of gifts you've bought yourself (or received)! Or, you could just tell me about them, but a picture is worth a thousand TL;DRs.

This post has been edited by Joules: 03 December 2007 - 08:30 AM

[Lavo_2]

I got CoD4.

[Lord GVChamp]

I'm working on buying myself liver failure!

[King Gerry]

I bought myself a 1982 Ducati 900SS for Hanukkah

[Vivi]

Moved.

[-Wolverine-]

Joules, on Dec 3 2007, 02:28 PM, said:

Edit: In before the "wrong forum"! Requesting a move.

My family's on the other coast, my man is six weeks deep in vacationing in Spain without me, and I've spent my money almost exclusively on food and bills since the semester started. It is time to ease my sorrows with selfishness! (Better than alcohol, right?)

This is my big self-gift: it is an enormous waterproof backpack that retails for $650. I did not pay nearly that much. Yay for industry perks.
I had to sell my previous pack of similar size at a yardsale following a very miserable four days in the eastern Sierra Nevada where I learned that the hipbelt was not intended for women who wear a size smaller than six or eight. That one retailed for $200 several years ago. I can't wait to see what $450 of backpack gets me.

Crappy picture. Nice knives. Farberware bamboo-handled forged steel set for my cooking pleasure. Boy, do I love knives. My roommate likes to whine about how his "really expensive" walmart-salesrack-quality kitchen stuff is "mistreated". Well, mistreat this! (Or maybe that would not be such a good idea.)


Post pics of gifts you've bought yourself (or received)! Or, you could just tell me about them, but a picture is worth a thousand TL;DRs.

By posting this in the Boiler Room, this thread must now be hi-jacked to discussing how many over ses laborers you exploited to buy that backpack. :lol:

A question from my own ignorance regarding the subject, how come the backpack is so expensive?

[Kenadian_2006]

I'd ask for a video game but...I've bought the games I want right now on my own. I suppose some good new clothes are a good thing to ask for.

[Xiao Weng]

-Wolverine-, on Dec 3 2007, 11:41 AM, said:

By posting this in the Boiler Room, this thread must now be hi-jacked to discussing how many over ses laborers you exploited to buy that backpack. :lol:

A question from my own ignorance regarding the subject, how come the backpack is so expensive?

Ruggedness and longevity. Custom designed to be comfortable, hold the necessities for the adventurer, and be tough enough to take abuse in any environment.

I'm also told such backpacks can have a much, much higher price tag.

[steodonn]

For the boy anything sports related

[Elyat]

I got vicodin. Looking at some high-interest student loans, too! *thumbsup*

This is not the season for giving or getting for me. Not this year.

This post has been edited by Doitzel: 03 December 2007 - 12:38 PM

[Joules]

Xiao Weng, on Dec 3 2007, 11:11 AM, said:

Ruggedness and longevity. Custom designed to be comfortable, hold the necessities for the adventurer, and be tough enough to take abuse in any environment.

I'm also told such backpacks can have a much, much higher price tag.

This, and then some.

You're opening up a can of worms, Wolverine... I've worked in the outdoors industry since I was 14 and have sat through at least three different clinics with sales reps from Arc'Teryx alone. I can be referred to as a "gear head": an utter dork when it comes to outdoor equipment, particularly climbing & backcountry gear.

But, let me give you the highlights of this particular line of packs (which came out this year, I believe, and is an upper tier line from an upper tier company). This line attaches all external parts by lamination rather than sewing. This means:

-Waterproof. Many packs use "waterproof" materials aim for "water resistance" but those darned seam needle-holes tend to leak water. This guy's got a roll-top and everything, like a giant sophisticated drybag. The seams that ARE there are taped with laminate.
-Much more design freedom. In a typical sewn pack, the suspension and features are limited because they generally need to be anchored into existing seams in the design for ease of production. When the parts are all just "glued" on, it allows for much more flexibility, and things like suspension systems can be built for optimal fit rather than with concern for production difficulties.

The selling point for me on this pack was the suspension. The shoulder straps and hipbelt are heat molded, which is typical of all of their products. The atypical feature is that the hipbelt & lumbar support are the same piece, and it is attached to the pack on a pivot point where they are usually immobile. This allows the hips to move up/down independent of the pack, which is generally fantastic, and particularly so on steep and uneven terrain, and for women. The load is much more stable this way, because the entire center of gravity does not need to shift when the legs/hips do.

Additionally, it's very durable material, has a lifetime warranty, is of average weight for its volume despite the materials (you can go a pound or maybe two lighter but there is a definite cost in comfort and durability), has minimal extraneous "features", and should hold about of week worth of stuff given that there are adequate water supplies wherever I'm going.

For comparison, the same size women's pack of a lower-end line from the same high-end company, retails for $375. My $200 pack was an EMS store-brand product and about as cheap as you can go for the size. $650 is pretty mindblowing, but I would not be buying it if I didn't get an equally mindblowing deal.

[steodonn]

Joules, on Dec 3 2007, 07:16 PM, said:

This, and then some.

You're opening up a can of worms, Wolverine... I've worked in the outdoors industry since I was 14 and have sat through at least three different clinics with sales reps from Arc'Teryx alone. I can be referred to as a "gear head": an utter dork when it comes to outdoor equipment, particularly climbing & backcountry gear.

But, let me give you the highlights of this particular line of packs (which came out this year, I believe, and is an upper tier line from an upper tier company). This line attaches all external parts by lamination rather than sewing. This means:

-Waterproof. Many packs use "waterproof" materials aim for "water resistance" but those darned seam needle-holes tend to leak water. This guy's got a roll-top and everything, like a giant sophisticated drybag. The seams that ARE there are taped with laminate.
-Much more design freedom. In a typical sewn pack, the suspension and features are limited because they generally need to be anchored into existing seams in the design for ease of production. When the parts are all just "glued" on, it allows for much more flexibility, and things like suspension systems can be built for optimal fit rather than with concern for production difficulties.

The selling point for me on this pack was the suspension. The shoulder straps and hipbelt are heat molded, which is typical of all of their products. The atypical feature is that the hipbelt & lumbar support are the same piece, and it is attached to the pack on a pivot point where they are usually immobile. This allows the hips to move up/down independent of the pack, which is generally fantastic, and particularly so on steep and uneven terrain, and for women. The load is much more stable this way, because the entire center of gravity does not need to shift when the legs/hips do.

Additionally, it's very durable material, has a lifetime warranty, is of average weight for its volume despite the materials (you can go a pound or maybe two lighter but there is a definite cost in comfort and durability), has minimal extraneous "features", and should hold about of week worth of stuff given that there are adequate water supplies wherever I'm going.

For comparison, the same size women's pack of a lower-end line from the same high-end company, retails for $375. My $200 pack was an EMS store-brand product and about as cheap as you can go for the size. $650 is pretty mindblowing, but I would not be buying it if I didn't get an equally mindblowing deal.

emm I dident get most of that. You should sell these things. You make it sound even though I dont understand what you said

[Xiao Weng]

It's a backpack that is truly waterproof, engineered to be easy on the back and not pull you over when climbing a steep trail, and durable enough to stand anything. Plus if by some chance this masterpiece of outdoor engineering should fail, it will be replaced by the manufacturer. It's not so much a backpack as a cargo extension of one's own body. The only thing better would be to have a pocket dimension to store equipment in.

edit: I recognize that material. I have a set of riding gear made out of it and it's been the best weather gear I've ever owned. The best part is I can actually wear another layer of clothing under it with no decrease in comfort or functionality.

I've used it twice so far riding in monsoon conditions here in town, and while my feet were soaked (tennis shoes the first day >.>), the rest of me was bone dry. I happened to waterproof a pair of boots that I carry with me on my bike now and I look forward to the days when it rains and I'm on the motorcycle.

This post has been edited by Xiao Weng: 03 December 2007 - 01:36 PM

[Joules]

Xiao Weng, on Dec 3 2007, 12:27 PM, said:

The only thing better would be to have a pocket dimension to store equipment in.

I will be eagerly awaiting this day. It does not take a lot of gear to equal half my body weight. I suspect that no longer having my hips essentially tied to the ground will help this significantly, as well as lessening the strain on my already-bad knees.

Quote

edit: I recognize that material. I have a set of riding gear made out of it and it's been the best weather gear I've ever owned. The best part is I can actually wear another layer of clothing under it with no decrease in comfort or functionality.

I've used it twice so far riding in monsoon conditions here in town, and while my feet were soaked (tennis shoes the first day >.>), the rest of me was bone dry. I happened to waterproof a pair of boots that I carry with me on my bike now and I look forward to the days when it rains and I'm on the motorcycle.

Good to hear! I can't wait 'til it gets here. I hope I get the pretty grey color and not the 2nd choice hideous yellow-orange color.

[Jamacus]

Joules, on Dec 3 2007, 02:16 PM, said:

This, and then some.

You're opening up a can of worms, Wolverine... I've worked in the outdoors industry since I was 14 and have sat through at least three different clinics with sales reps from Arc'Teryx alone. I can be referred to as a "gear head": an utter dork when it comes to outdoor equipment, particularly climbing & backcountry gear.

But, let me give you the highlights of this particular line of packs (which came out this year, I believe, and is an upper tier line from an upper tier company). This line attaches all external parts by lamination rather than sewing. This means:

-Waterproof. Many packs use "waterproof" materials aim for "water resistance" but those darned seam needle-holes tend to leak water. This guy's got a roll-top and everything, like a giant sophisticated drybag. The seams that ARE there are taped with laminate.
-Much more design freedom. In a typical sewn pack, the suspension and features are limited because they generally need to be anchored into existing seams in the design for ease of production. When the parts are all just "glued" on, it allows for much more flexibility, and things like suspension systems can be built for optimal fit rather than with concern for production difficulties.

The selling point for me on this pack was the suspension. The shoulder straps and hipbelt are heat molded, which is typical of all of their products. The atypical feature is that the hipbelt & lumbar support are the same piece, and it is attached to the pack on a pivot point where they are usually immobile. This allows the hips to move up/down independent of the pack, which is generally fantastic, and particularly so on steep and uneven terrain, and for women. The load is much more stable this way, because the entire center of gravity does not need to shift when the legs/hips do.

Additionally, it's very durable material, has a lifetime warranty, is of average weight for its volume despite the materials (you can go a pound or maybe two lighter but there is a definite cost in comfort and durability), has minimal extraneous "features", and should hold about of week worth of stuff given that there are adequate water supplies wherever I'm going.

For comparison, the same size women's pack of a lower-end line from the same high-end company, retails for $375. My $200 pack was an EMS store-brand product and about as cheap as you can go for the size. $650 is pretty mindblowing, but I would not be buying it if I didn't get an equally mindblowing deal.

It is wonderful to see a girl that can obsess as much about outdoor gear as me. I consider myself an expert on hiking gear. (there's no good place to rock climb where I live, though :angry: )

As for Arc'Teryx I must say you have chosen a good backpack I had a smaller version of what you bought for a while but I sadly outgrew it. The Load Transfer Disc is a thing of beauty. I know you saved some money ordering it but I hope you get the hip belt custom fitted. It is worth the effort and something Arc'Teryx has put a lot of effort into.

My only beef is the lack of exterior pockets. I realize you need less space because you don't have to carry a pack cover but I still always felt cramped. It's nice to be able to sling of your pack and pull a Cliff bar/map and compass/anything else out without having to open up the top and root around in the main body. The top pocket just wasn't big enough for me. Also, the fabric was nice but not as rugged as I thought I would be so you will have to think twice before throwing it down in a rock.

All in all 9 out of 10.

[Xiao Weng]

Question for you two outdoorsies:

Do you happen to know of a backpack that's in the $2,000 range? I've heard a rumor or two concerning my neighbor and his spending, and I want to know for certain how much a truly high end backpack would be.

[Joules]

Off the top of my head, you can go to $800 with carbon-fiber and spectra. I don't know of anything that might get that expensive, but there may be something.

http://www.gameops.c...mo/backpack.php ???

This post has been edited by Joules: 03 December 2007 - 03:23 PM

[Xiao Weng]

Hm. No, this is supposed to be a bug-out bag. I'm thinking the talk about the four-digit price tag was the backpack and a bunch of survival gear to stuff it with.

[Jamacus]

I don't think there are any name brand hiking backpacks that go as high as $2000. He may have had his custom made, though which could conceivably go that high.

[onbekende]

Man in Spain you say

where do I have to set Spain countryside on fire? >_>